What is your favorite part of the circus? The amazing acrobats, the exotic animals, the clowns, the cotton candy, or something else? Circuses have a magic of their own that inspires children and adults of all ages. While you can’t bring a lion or elephant home for a party, with some little touches, you can still establish a circus theme.

What treats do you associate with the circus? Cotton candy is a popular circus treat and kids love it. Plus, with the right equipment, it is easy and inexpensive to make. Hot dogs and popcorn are also fun treats for a circus party. You can also decorate the birthday cake with a circus theme. Pick an animal shape like a lion or an elephant or put plastic circus toys or animal crackers on top of a cake.

Looking for entertainment at your circus event? You can hire a clown, a balloon artist, or acrobats to entertain the kids. The Circus School of Arizona in Phoenix offers acrobat performers for events or workshops for the kids. If the animals are your favorite part of the circus, consider having a petting zoo or pony rides or hosting your party at the zoo.

Pick up circus themed decorations and party favors at a dollar or party store. If they don’t have circus themed items, look for items that feature lions, elephants, or other animals. Get lots of helium filled balloons to complete your party’s circus look.

By the way, if you haven’t been to a real circus for a while, perhaps it is time to take the kids and go. Ringling Bros and Barnum are going to be performing in Tucson June 21 to 24 and in Phoenix June 27 to July 2, 2012.

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If you are in Phoenix for the Fourth of July, you might be interested in checking out the Freedom Wireless Fabulous Phoenix Fourth. The event runs from 6 to 10 pm at the Steele Indian School Park and admission is free. Entertainment includes a Kid Zone with inflatable rides and activities, live music, a classic car exhibit, an F-16 fly over, and a fireworks display.

There are many other Fourth of July celebrations throughout Arizona, but if you want to hold your own, here are some tips to help you plan your event.

If you are planning on having fireworks at your event, check the local laws and make sure that using fireworks is permitted. Arizona state law allows some fireworks items, but prohibits any fireworks that explode or shoot anything into the air. City laws vary with some prohibiting pretty much everything. Fireworks are not allowed on BLM land.

There is good reason for fireworks to be controlled or illegal in Arizona. Arizona is a dry and flammable state, and when you are playing with fireworks you are literally playing with fire. Every year fires are started and people are injured by fireworks.

One alternative to fireworks is to have a laser light show. The best part about using lasers is there is no fire involved. Depending on your budget, there are all sorts of indoor and outdoor options available to buy or rent, some of which mimic fireworks and others which have a beauty all of their own. For best results, you may want to hire a professional to create a stunning light show.

Pick up some Patriotic music for your party. A variety of rock or classic collections are available to purchase or you can hire a DJ or musicians to keep the music playing throughout your party. As an added benefit, some DJs also do laser light shows for events.

If you are having kids at your event, consider renting an inflatable to keep them busy. One option is the Forces of Fun Obstacle Course. The red, white, and blue superhero themed inflatable is large enough for adults to join in with the kids and features climbing walls and slides.

Decorate your party with red, white, and blue for a traditional Independence Day look. Party and dollar stores sell a variety of decorations, plates, cups, and party favors in Patriotic colors or with a flag motif.

Hot dogs are a popular choice for Fourth of July parties as are hamburgers and steaks. Depending on the size of your party, you might set up the barbecue, have a pot luck, or hire a caterer to take care of the food requirements.

Whatever you decide to do for the Holiday, hope you have a great Fourth of July!

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Dinosaurs are fascinating to adults and kids. Why else would movies and television shows like Jurassic Park, Dinosaur Train, and Primeval be so popular? We never cease to be amazed and awed by giant creatures that once roamed the earth like Tyrannosaurus Rex, Brontosaurus, and Triceratops.

Arizona is a wonderful place for dinosaur lovers to explore. At least 15 species of dinosaurs have been found in the state and looking at the rocky landscape, one can’t help but imagine these huge creatures would have felt right at home here.

If you are planning a party or event to appeal to a dinosaur fanatic, here are some tips to make planning the party a bit easier.

Pick a good dinosaur habitat. The Arizona Museum of Natural History in Mesa, Arizona is a perfect choice. The museum is full of interesting prehistoric themed exhibits like Dinosaur Hall and Dinosaur Mountain that will enthrall dinosaur fans. No amount of decorating a house or back yard will be able to compete with these exhibits and you can’t rent a dinosaur skeleton for a party. The museum offers birthday party packages that include time in the Exploration Station, a craft activity, and admission to the museum.

The Museum of Northern Arizona in Flagstaff has, among its exhibits, a geology gallery with fossils and a life-size skeletal model of Dilophosaurus, a carnivorous dinosaur. The museum has three rental facilities available for events: The Historic Colton House, the Branigar / Chase Discovery Center, and Pearson Hall. Groups can also schedule a workshop or take part in a program. The Dinosaur program for kids in pre kindergarten through third grade teaches kids about dinosaurs and their environment as they explore bones, models, footprint casts, and illustrations.

Petrified Forest National Park in Northeast Arizona is another cool place to visit with a dinosaur enthusiast. The 146 square mile park includes fossil plants and animals. If you need a break from the heat during your visit, you can check out the park’s Rainbow Forest Museum. Of course, if you decide to have a party at the park, there will be a lot more work involved than purchasing a party package at the museum. Large events may require a special use permit.

Another near attraction to take dinosaur fans to is the dinosaur tracks near Tuba City on Highway 160. A Navajo guide takes visitors on tours to see the tracks.

There are plenty of other ways to give an event a dinosaur theme besides the location. You can pick up dinosaur decorations, plates, napkins, and goody bag items at a party or dollar store. Many companies, such as Safari, Collecta, and Schleich, sell plastic dinosaur models in various sizes that make good gifts or decorations. Dinosaur masks and inflatable dinosaurs are also fun for dinosaur themed events.

Pick or make a cake with a dinosaur theme. If you are making the cake, you can use a dinosaur shaped cake pan or put plastic dinosaurs on top of a cake.

If you are interested in an inflatable for your event, consider the Crocodile Play Center. While not quite a dinosaur, crocodiles lived side by side with the dinosaurs, so it should fit in with the theme pretty well. The play center has a slide, a bounce room, and obstacles that are sure to be lots of fun for any kids at the party.

Hopefully this has gotten you thinking about how you can make a great Dinosaur Bash for the dinosaur enthusiast in your life. Whatever you come up with, your dinosaur party is sure to be a hit with the participants and the guest of honor!

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Father’s Day is coming up June 17. Have you thought about how you are going to let your dad know just how special he is? Are you thinking about breakfast in bed and a gift? That’s fine, but if you are really looking to impress and really make a dad’s day, how about throwing him a sports party?

First pick a sport. What is your dad’s favorite to play (or watch)? What are his favorite teams? Next pick a venue. Smaller parties may be held at your house. For larger parties or if you want sports facilities for your event, city parks are often a good choice. Finally pick the entertainment. Are you going to actually play the game at your event, or would sports themed activities be more appropriate?

AZ Party Works has several sports themed inflatables and carnival style games that can be great entertainment for sports parties. These games range in size: some will fit nicely in a party room or small back yard while others require a bit of space. Keep in mind, if you are having your party at a park, permits are often required for any inflatables at city parks.

Barbecues with hamburgers, hot dogs, steak, and chicken tend to be popular with dads. If you want to keep food prep simple, consider getting a hot dog roller. Serve with chips or nachos.

Decorations for a Father’s Day Party don’t need to be fancy. You can probably get sports themed decorations, paper plates, and cups at your local party of dollar store, but if your dad is anything like mine, plain paper will suit him just fine. Instead, spend the money to get him a t-shirt or baseball cap with his favorite sports team on it. Every time he wears it, it will remind him what a great Father’s Day Party you threw for him.

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Hitting a Piñata is a fun activity for a birthday party and other celebrations. You can purchase a Piñata already made and sometimes event already filled, or you can make your own. Here are some instructions for making a simple piñata. You can build upon these instructions to make a more complex creation.

1. Tear newspapers into strips.
2. Mix the glue with water ¾ glue to ¼ part water. With thicker glue you may choose to add more water.
3. Blow up the balloon. Tape a string to the top of the balloon.
4. Dip newspaper strips in glue and cover the balloon with 2 layers of newspapers. Leave a small hole just large enough to remove the balloon and fill the piñata with prizes around the balloon string. Let dry. After paper is dry, cover the balloon with another two layers and let dry again. Once paper is completely dry, pop and remove the balloon using the string.
5. Decorate the piñata with paint or crepe paper. You can glue the ends of crepe paper strips or wrap the paper around the piñata.
6. Fill the piñata with prizes or treats
7. Poke 4 holes evenly around the edge of the hole on the top of the piñata. Thread two strings so each goes in one hole and out through the hole opposite. You will end up with four ends of string hanging out of the piñata. You can knot four strings around the individual holes if you prefer.
8. Cover the hole with masking tape and decorate with paint or crepe paper to match the rest of the piñata. Make sure that the ends of the string are still accessible, but you should be covering the part of the string that goes through the pinata.
9. Tie the four strings ends together so all hang at an equal length. Tie a long ribbon or string around the knot to hang the piñata.

Once you have the basic piñata construction down, you can start experimenting with different shapes and sizes. You can use multiple balloons of different sizes to make different animals. You can also use cardboard tubes to support parts of the piñata. Just make sure whatever you are using can be broken since breaking the piñata really is the whole point of the exercise.

When you are planning all the details for your party, be sure to check with AZ Party Rents for all your rental needs including tents, tables, and chairs.

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If you are planning a party for a creative kid, why not make the party centered around arts and crafts. Pick an artistic setting, activity, or both, and the guests are sure to have a good time.

Make (or buy) creative invitations and be sure to tell the parents to send clothes that can get messy (if you are having the kids do any messy activities). You may also consider providing inexpensive aprons or smocks for the kids or in a pinch, cut a holes in garbage bags for the kids heads and arms and they can wear them to protect their clothes.

Museums like the Phoenix Art Museum and the Children’s Museum of Phoenix are interesting settings for birthday parties. Bring the kids on a tour of the Phoenix Art Museum which offers special kid activities. The Children’s Museum of Phoenix has birthday party packages which can include a variety of creative activities.

If you choose to have the party at home or at the park, there are plenty of art and craft activities you can include with your party. Your imagination really is the only limit.

Spin art is a fun, simple activity that all of the participants can enjoy, whether or not they can draw. Squeeze paint onto a spinning piece of paper or fabric to create an abstract masterpiece.

Sandy Candy is an interesting and edible event activity, perfect for creative kids who put everything in their mouth anyway. Participants layer edible colored “sand” in a clear plastic container to make a work of art.

If you are on a tight budget, think about what you can do using recycled materials. Old magazines can be cut up to make collages or used for reference material for painting or drawing. Leaves, sticks, feathers, and other natural items can also be used in collages or in sculptures. You can clean and decorate empty soup cans (make sure there are no sharp edges) to make pen holders or use in sculpture. You can make paper mache using old newspaper strips and a water and glue mix and sculpt over balloons, cardboard, or other armature materials.

Feeling inspired? Hopefully, you have lots of ideas for the party. If you are struggling for inspiration however, visit the local art or craft stores. Browsing the shelves or talking to the employees should help you come up with something great. There are also loads of books or online craft tutorials that you can look at for more ideas. And if all else fails, talk to the guest of honor and see what kind of activities they can come up with.

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Thinking of having a soft serve ice cream machine at your event? Most people serve vanilla ice cream if they are just serving one flavor or vanilla and chocolate if they are serving two, but there are many flavors of ice cream that you can make with the machine. Additionally you can have a sundae bar with all sorts of toppings. Here are some ideas to get you started.

Writing this list really made me feel like eating an ice cream sundae. I hope it inspires you to come up with a fantastic soft serve creation or to put together your own soft serve sundae bar for an event.

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Phoenix is a warm place. The average monthly temperature ranges from 55 degrees in December to 95 degrees in July with high temperatures that can go up to 122 degrees. That’s pretty hot! So how can you cool down an event in Phoenix?

Well, you could always hold your event indoors with air conditioning blasting, and things are sure to stay comfortable. You can have a party at a swimming pool so everyone can cool down in the water. You can shade your event with tents and cool things down with fans.

If those options won’t work for your event, it is just still to warm, or you just want to add a cool treat to your party, consider renting a soft serve ice cream machine. Some other cool treats to consider for events include Shaved Ice, Margaritas, and ice cream bars.

Soft serve ice cream machines are easy to use and make a great treat. Soft serve ice cream is a good concession to sell at fairs, concerts, and other public events or it is a fun addition to birthday parties, picnics, and other private events. Personalize your ice cream with a variety of flavors, cones, and toppings or just sell plain vanilla which is sure to please.

So if you are looking to cool down your event, consider serving a nice cool treat like Soft Serve Ice Cream.

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Do you have a relative or friend who is loves participating in all sorts of dangerous activities? Or perhaps you are the one who is always looking for a thrill. For those thrill seekers who love to climb mountains, go bungee jumping, ride bulls, or do just about anything else for a kick, there are some great entertainment options for a party. These entertainment options provide thrills without so much risk, so all of the party goers can join in on the adventure and fun.

Ever been rock climbing? I hear it is a lot of fun, but I am a bit afraid of heights myself, so I stay off of the mountains. I know many people who like to climb, and I have heard stories of near disasters that make me glad I am not one of them. I wouldn’t hesitate to climb a climbing wall however, and a climbing wall makes a great entertainment option for parties and events. Experienced climbers enjoy the opportunity to practice and play while those who are new to the sport get a chance enjoy climbing without spending a ton of money on equipment or risking their life on a mountain.

Want to try bungee jumping? Monkey Motion is a bungee trampoline system that can also be set up to simulate wakeboarding or snowboarding. I’m not brave enough to jump from any great heights, but this looks like fun!

Ever ridden a bull? I suspect most people have not, but a mechanical bull is a good alternative that is guaranteed not to gore you once you fall off,… and you will fall off. When people asked me about falling off my horse, I told them that the actual fall was kind of a rush, it was the landing that stunk. When you fall off our mechanical bull, you land on a nice soft inflatable, so enjoy the ride.

Want more thrills? How about playing Laser Tag? How else can you run around shooting people without going to jail (or get shot and not end up at the hospital)? No one gets hurt, but everyone has a lot of fun.

Whether the guests are thrill seeker or they just want to pretend to be, there are plenty of fun options for adding adventure into a party.

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Trying to figure out a snack to have at an event? Nachos make a popular snack for sporting events, parties, and all sorts of other events. Basic nachos are easy and inexpensive to make or you can add extra toppings to make the Nachos into a more nourishing snack.

If you are thinking of adding extra toppings to the Nachos, here are some ideas:

There are also a wide variety of chips that you can serve with your Nachos. Most people go with a plain corn tortilla chip, but even among corn tortilla chips there are many choices.

Whether you serve the Nachos plain or with an assortment of toppings, they are sure to be a hit. Have sodas and other beverages available as well, as nachos tend to make people very thirsty- especially if they have are topped with spicy condiments.

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